Emma Bunton auditioned for EastEnders' Bianca

Emma Bunton has revealed she was once turned down for the role of Bianca Jackson in 'EastEnders' after getting through to the final auditions

Emma Bunton once auditioned for the role of Bianca Jackson in 'EastEnders'.

The Spice Girl has revealed she got down to the final try outs for the part of the mouthy market trader - which eventually went to Patsy Palmer - on the BBC One soap when she was 17, but was left devastated when she got turned down.

She said: "When I was 17 I was up for the part. I loved the show and thought it was perfect for me.

"I got right down to the final auditions and then was rejected. It was really upsetting."

The 37-year-old star picked herself back up and met the team who put together the Spice Girls just one week after her 'EastEnders' disappointment, and the blonde beauty - who was known as Baby Spice in the girl band - admits her rejection taught her a valuable life lesson.

She is quoted by the Mail on Sunday newspaper as saying: "I learned an important lesson being at stage school. You don't get everything you want, but sometimes it's for a reason.

"The very next week after failing that audition I met the guys who put together the Spice Girls."